511: Brennan Perry of Tenma Explores the Multiverse of Single-Hop and Single-Malt Lagers
Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine PodcastShow Notes
When he and wife Dana Martindale purchased the brewery that would become Tenma Beer Project a few years ago, Brennan Perry had to adjust—it was the smallest brewhouse he’d ever used. After stints at Stone, Beachwood, and others, he’d developed a disciplined approach to production brewing. But with this new chapter, he wanted to test, learn, and bring customers along for an ever-changing experience that still felt rooted. A few years in, he’s still adapting, with a new European malt supplier, decoctions for many of his lagers, and more.
In this episode, Perry discusses:
brewing five different brands of single-hopped, German-style pils
finding European malt with process-dependent flavor expression
first-wort hopping lager and IPA for integrated bitterness
the quirks of Saphir, Hersbrucker, Tettnanger, Mittlefrüh, and more
adjusting boil timing based on alpha acids
applying technical approaches from lager brewing to West Coast IPA
blending malts for the perfect IPA base
accounting for the lower perceived bitterness in advanced hop products
And more.
This episode is brought to you by:
G&D Chillers
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Berkeley Yeast
Here’s a brewer’s nightmare. It’s the night before packaging. You walk into the brewery, straight to the tank. You pull a sample to do a forced diacetyl test, and you wait for it in silence. Something feels not quite right. You reach into the water bath and bring the flask to your nose… And it’s a butter bomb. The logistics start running through your head. Do we hold the tank? We have accounts waiting. How many days until it clears? And then you wake up and remember that you use Berkeley Yeast’s FRESH™ Chico. It’s got ALDC inside every cell, so diacetyl can’t even form in the first place. Through primary. Through dry hopping and hop creep. Diacetyl stays ultra-low. So you don’t have to add ALDC or wait for diacetyl to clean up. And most importantly, you don’t have to wake up in a cold sweat, worrying about scary stories like these. FRESH™ Chico is now available in dried bricks for as low as $88 at berkeleyyeast.com.
PakTech
This episode is sponsored by PakTech—delivering craft-beer multipacking you can trust. Our handles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, our carriers help brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, we offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com.
Indie Hops
Oregon hop country is heaven to world-class lager varieties, and Indie Hops is proud to have introduced Oregon’s newest lager hop, Lórien, in 2022. Lórien is in a growing list of beers that have found their way to the podium and—more importantly—into the hearts of lager lovers across the country. Discover Indie Hops Lórien. (Side effects may include rampant festivity, sales bumps, and exceeded expectations.) Indie Hops—Life Is Short. Let’s Make It Flavorful.
Midea 50/50 Flex
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